In January 2014, Keolis Commuter Services, part of Keolis North America, won a bid for the $2.6-billion, eight-year contract to operate and maintain MBTA's passenger rail service, which serves 127,000 passengers daily.

"This is a momentous day for Keolis, our passengers and the communities we will serve," said Eric Asselin, executive vice president and general manager for Keolis North America. "From customer service to on-time performance, we pride ourselves in how we are always 'thinking like a passenger' in everything we do. With the commitment of our employees and the input of our passengers, we are dedicated to making one of the nation's preeminent commuter rail services even better."

Other improvements will include cleaned trains and stations, new signage and repairs to damaged seats. New pocket timetables, featuring larger, easier-to-read system maps, were distributed at the major stations.

Keolis will also be introducing the first official MBTA Commuter Rail app, which is designed to make it easier for passengers to plan their journey. The first version of the app was released July 1, 2014, and is free and available for download for both Apple and Android devices. An enhanced version will be released this fall, providing real-time information about travel times, a place to register lost or found items in trains and stations and other features designed to enhance the passenger experience.